Jerusalem, Israel this time of year is usually one of the busiest.
Pesach, Passover, has many other names, including the holiday of spring, and the holiday of freedom. Streets are usually full of people, rental cars, tour buses, and holiday pilgrims.
This year the yearning for freedom from home isolation was felt around the world as the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic kept people inside their homes.
This year with Pesach and Easter coinciding streets should have been packed.
Instead, they are empty.
Three years ago this was the scene at the Kotel, Western Wall for Birkat Kohanim, Priestly Blessing.
Ten men prayed together at the Kotel and recited the blessing today.
A tiny microbe has done what wars, stabbings, suicide bombers, car-rammings and other forms of terror could not accomplish.
However, if nothing else, Israelis are resilient.
Moving off the streets and online, here are five suggestions to experience Jerusalem over this holiday week.
Instead of sharing places to go and things to do in Jerusalem, Fun in Jerusalem is offering at home ideas.
2. The Tower of David Museum has virtual tours free for this week, check out one introductory tour HERE
Or take time and explore the site for other tours HERE
3. The Jerusalem Cinematheque is closed. Last month when I went to a special performance, already concerned about the virus, I heard a woman coughing. Quickly I went in ahead of and away from her. Hard to believe that was just over a month ago and one of their last events.
However, the Cinematheque is offering a wide variety of entertainment links, from first-rate old US movies to ‘Peter and the Wolf’ performed by the Royal Ballet and Metropolitan Opera mega productions: HERE
4. The Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem is also at work getting more content online: HERE you can see the video from Yemen exhibit.
5. Experience the Western Wall Tunnel Tours from home:
Sadly the exciting Jerusalem night shows are on hold.
But here is a bit of the introduction to the Tower of David Night Show.
And the City of David Sound and Light Show Finale.
Hoping all stay well, wishing you a healthy holiday.
Let’s keep in touch virtually, until we can see you again soon on the Jerusalem streets.
Blessed are You, L‑rd our G‑d, King of the universe, Who has withheld nothing from His world, but has created in it beautiful creatures and trees for human beings to enjoy.
Photo credit: Mark Neiman / GPO
President Rivlin went out to the garden at Beit Hanasi to make the blessing.
He and his staff were wearing masks at per official instructions.
Photo credit: Mark Neiman / GPO
President Rivlin’s office also sent out this photo of him and Director-General of Beit HaNasi Harel Tubi selling Israel’s chametz in a video call to the Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, Shlomo Amar.
In Jerusalem, Municipality volunteers handed out over eleven thousand food packages to help the elderly and quarantined residents, three times last week. Thousands of people volunteered daily in Jerusalem delivering food, making phone calls, bringing medicines to the sick, doing good and feeling good, to 12,500 seniors alone at home. Other private volunteer groups have been formed in Jerusalem around the country to assist those in need.
Photo credit: Ramada Hotel
Similar to Tel Aviv municipality, the Jerusalem Ramada Hotel, and empty hotels across Israel lit their windows in the shape of a heart to send a message of solidarity and love to the people of Israel during this difficult time. More and more empty hotels are being converted to “melonit,” locations for those with mild cases of coronavirus to be quarantined.
Photo credit: MDA spokesperson
MDA has set up more and more test sites for testing coronavirus.
A team of over 40 medical experts & engineers from Israel released blueprints for AmboVent, a low-cost, medically tested #COVIDー19 ventilator device, made from off-the-shelf components, to answer the worldwide need for emergency equipment.
In a recent tweet, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh claimed that Israel and its policies thwart efforts to protect Palestinians from the spreading Coronavirus.
While around the world countries closed borders, Israel kept the border to Gaza open. COGAT published its information in an easy to read format. In case the small print is hard to read, 145 tons of medical supplies were sent into Gaza by way of Kerem Shalom Crossing last week. Yet Israel haters have not ceased their campaign of lies against Israel. What they should be questioning is where all the tons and tonnes of materials go.
Photo Credit: IDF
This photo of Palestinian Authority doctors training in Israel to learn how to treat COVID-19 did make some news sites.
It is interesting that it made the news because, for years, there have been medical training sessions for doctors from Gaza and Arab countries in Israel.
In November 2017, four pediatric emergency room medical specialists from Sydney, Australia came to a Jerusalem hospital to train medical experts from Gaza, Iraq and other Middle East unmentionables.
I have over 500 photos of the Israeli and Arab doctors and nurses working together. The smiling group selfie images to home countries were my favorites. However, for privacy’s sake, I am only sharing this one group photograph.
A big van with loud music playing is making the rounds in Jerusalem as well as other Israeli cities. One day there was loud music coming from the direction of the Israel Museum over the Israeli Scouts base. I tried to get a video for you to hear, but it was difficult over the sounds of traffic and birds.
No moving music truck was spotted on our little street. However, for a second time, the street was sprayed this morning by the municipality.
So I am off the streets for a while, with plenty of Zoom sessions to follow and connect.
Sunday evening Rav Yisrael Meir Lau was the first speaker for a Government Press Office Zoom session live with journalists and rabbis from around the world. Rav Lau stressed we have a common enemy, and with this new enemy the virus, there is no east or west. We have no choice, he said, but to be united. Peace. Friendship. Even love.
At home with my zoom lens, I can get a decent image of Nahlaot.
The Knesset is quiet, as is the Crown Plaza Hotel behind it.
Sorry, still no new unity government to report.
President Reuven Rivlin has gone into a grandfatherly Saba Ruvi mode with another story time.
At least we can all learn the classic Israeli children’s stories and with the English translations, a bit of Hebrew too.
Photo Credit: Micha Mitch Danzig
These lights in Tel Aviv were of the Azrieli Tower windows illuminated with “Shema Yisrael HaShem Elokeynu HaShem Ahad – Listen Israel, the L-rd is Our G-d, the L-rd is One.”
Pesach this year coincides with Easter, and Ramadan begins right after.
Tens of thousands will be disappointed not to be on the Jerusalem streets for these religious holidays.
However, here’s hoping for a happy and healthy holiday to all, and one day we can retell the stories of the time of the historic pandemic.
